On a chilly January evening in Baltimore, Howard discovered themselves on the ropes.
The Bison — the defending MEAC champions — had been crushed up by Morgan State 85-79 on Jan. 27. It was Howard’s second consecutive convention loss and put them in a gap within the convention common season title race.
Whereas Howard was an skilled and examined bunch, it was dropping our bodies and reinforcements because of harm that will assist them overcome its 10-14 begin.
However these Bison fought.
They leaned on the toughness of ahead Bryce Harris and the worn expertise of Seth Cities, who’s enjoying his eighth collegiate season, to be leaders. Head coach Kenny Blakeney needed to rally the troops and preach {that a} collective effort would see them by.
“On our 12 months, it’s been considerably fascinating and difficult. We’ve performed this 12 months with in all probability essentially the most accidents of any staff within the nation,” stated head coach Kenny Blakeney. “We misplaced 82 (participant) video games this 12 months because of accidents with guys which can be in our rotation.”
After January, Howard remodeled into one of many hottest groups within the MEAC, going 8-4 down the stretch, together with a 7-1 run to win the convention event and earn an NCAA event bid.
“I feel we confronted a ton of adversity this season by harm, by loads of guys going by actually, actually powerful particular person issues,” stated Cities. “And also you go in with sure expectations and this 12 months was identical to actually rocky for us in loads of methods.
“So to come back collectively on the finish of the 12 months, like we did, within the final 5 or so video games after which within the event, I feel it’s a testomony to the management of the teaching workers and simply to the unimaginable guys who have been by no means keen to surrender.”
Having the ability to survive that season grind and return to the NCAA event for the second consecutive March provides the Bison an appreciative perspective forward of its First 4 sport on Tuesday evening in Dayton, Ohio, towards Wagner.
“Truthfully, like coming again right here, actually simply is knowing the magnitude of this sort of occasion,” stated Harris. “My first 12 months coming right here, I used to be simply in awe. It didn’t have an effect on who we have been as a basketball staff, however it was simply attention-grabbing.
You suppose you perceive how large this world is and all of the cameras and the lights and all the things like that, and also you’re actually simply telling your self and your teammates as nicely, , let’s not get intoxicated with this; let’s perceive what we did to get right here.”
Mentioned Blakeney in regards to the staff’s journey again to the sphere of 68: “For us to have the ability to be right here and have an opportunity to play in March, be part of March Insanity, is really a blessing and simply very grateful.”
NCAA Event
When: Tuesday
The place: Dayton, Ohio
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Community: TruTV
